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HIGHLIGHT: BALLET GIRLS December 1 , 2006 Ballerinas, it seems, are born, not trained. Girls who don't inherit the right type of foot or are too broad in the shoulders will probably never become professional ballerinas, no matter how hard they try. That's the harsh truth many girls discover about themselves in this three-part series. It follows ballerinas aged 10 through 14 who are desperate to join the intensive summer-school program for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and hope to win a full-time spot at the school. These girls are already incredibly dedicated to dance, kids who can say, "I love tutus!" and really, really mean it. They've always been top of their class, but these auditions are different. Now, every move is carefully watched and evaluated by the kind, yet critical, eyes of the RWB school director and instructors. Those who do make it to the school go under even greater scrutiny, their youthful bodies bent and stretched to their limits to see if they have what it takes to become a pro. The hour is filled with how-they-got-here stories for many of the girls, some fulfilling the dreams of their mothers, others benefiting from parents who work several jobs to pay for their lessons, and one young woman who can't decide between ballet and hockey. |